The 2014 Paleo Challenge!!

Start the New Year off on the right foot this year by participating in the G2 Fitness 30 Day Paleo Challenge (2 Jan thru 31 Jan). What is the “Paleo Challenge” you ask? Well, Paleo is a style of eating that is derived of meats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar or processed products. It is a type of clean eating that mitigates foods that wreak havoc on your system- including dairy, wheat, legumes, soy and processed vegetable oils. It can appear quite complicated from the outside- but I’m here to introduce you to some basic concepts, books, recipes, menus and shopping lists that will make it easier for you. I guarantee that by the end of the 30 days, you will have more energy, feel better internally and may even have some weight loss!

Getting started can seem daunting- so to help educate you more, here is some recommended reading. We will start with books- then advance into websites and blogs.

Books:

The Paleo Diet, The Paleo Diet for Athletes and The Paleo Solution are the most regarded books out there on the Paleo Diet. Dr. Loren Cordain and Robb Wolf have put in the time and research to show you the science behind the diet. They cover everything from insulin response to the glycemic index of foods. They also discuss vegetables and the breakdown of which veggies we can eat & why (roots vs. tubulars, pre-agricultural vs. post agricultural, etc.). The Paleo Diet for Athletes adds further information on getting the appropriate carbs for anyone pursuing athletic activities on a regular basis. They also discuss when to eat those carbs and what is acceptable to add into your diet.

Now- some more books and websites/blogs that you will absolutely need to be successful:

The Whole30 and It Starts With Food: Check out the website for the Whole30. This breaks down exactly what goes into a Whole30, what you can & can’t eat, and the science. They also offer some great testimonials with before and after photos. Authors Melissa and Dallas Hartwig run the website, a blog and wrote the book It Starts with Food. www.whole9life.com

PaleOMG: Juli at PaleOMG is Hilarious!! There isn’t a better paleo recipe blog out there- and she brings a very unique, risqué, adult humor to it all. Not all her recipes are approved for the 30 Day Challenge- but most are- and she is BRILLIANT with paleo hacks (foods that are paleo, but fulfill your craving for something that’s not paleo). Check her out here. Also check out her book- OMG That’s Paleo? It is a must-have in any paleo kitchen!!

Well Fed 1 & Well Fed 2: Melissa Joulwan from the blog “The Clothes Make the Girl” http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com has put together two of the best paleo cookbooks out there- and has even made the New York Times Best Sellers list with Well Fed! She features recipes from all around the world that will suit your fancy no matter your mood! Get her books bundled on Amazon.com

Nom Nom Paleo: With an amazing blog, an amazing iPad app and a newly released cookbook, Michelle Tam is killing it on the paleo front. She tends towards Asian flare in her cooking- but her food is amazing! Everything from peachy pork kabobs, to Fiona’s green chicken, everything she creates is amazing! Check out the resources tab on her page to see other great blogs- and notice that she’s friends with the ladies above- and find all her Whole30 approved recipes!

Did I mention her iPad app allows you to make your own grocery list based on your weekly recipes?

Now that you have some great resources, let’s discuss some starters for your fridge and pantry. Here is a list of basic foods that are paleo approved/shopping lists:

And here is a list of paleo approved veggies by season- and which ones should be bought organic or need special care. Whole30 Veggies

This should prove to be a great start on your paleo journey! While this is a good reference- it is by no means all inclusive! Feel free to do some additional research and find what fits you! I’ll have a couple more blog entries to help you on this journey- including a ton of my favorite recipes- my shopping list each week- my weekly menus and before/after measurements of my progress and that of some clients!! Hope you enjoy!!